10450 Best Sights in USA

Witness the effects of time on these cone-shape rock formations colored by iron, manganese, and other minerals.

On the first Saturday of November, top chefs spice up cooling weather with chili cooking, bragging, and partying at this spicy chili cook-off held behind the Terlingua Store in Terlingua ghost town. Some of the prize-winning cooks dole out samples. And this is Texas, pardner: no beans allowed.

It's named for the calcium carbonate in the earth beneath it—Terra Blanca is Latin for "white earth"—and from this favorable soil grow wine grapes that produce the winery's specialties: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albariño, and Chardonnay. This picturesque estate winery offers sweeping views of the Red Mountain region, and also has one of the only restaurants in Benton City, the Vineyard Grill, which served refined Pacific Northwest fare from Friday through Sunday. 

Don't be surprised to find yourself whiling away a few hours at this warehouse-like operation, whose proprietors grow grapes and olives; tend gardens; display art indoors and out; and care for goats, donkeys, and other rescue animals. The owners (and critters) won't mind if you do: this is a laid-back kind of place. Estate-grown Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the highlights.

The governor's opulent residence is an excellent example of Second Empire architecture, commissioned during the 1860s for an Iowa millionaire and built at a cost of $250,000. The 18,000-square-foot mansion earned status as a National Historic Landmark in 2003. Perched on a hill, it looks out over downtown Des Moines and is a major focal point from downtown. The governor and his family reside in a third-floor private apartment that is off-limits, but the hour-long guided tour explores other areas and outlines the storied history of the building.

Bring a towel and enjoy the soaking pools in this natural hot-springs area. Located an hour east of Eugene off of Highway 126, the pools are a short hike from the parking area, and include a changing area. Soaking aficionados will find Terwilliger to be rustic, which many regard as an advantage, though the popularity of this beautiful spot can be a drawback. The pools are in a forest of old-growth firs and cedars, and just downstream is a beautiful lagoon complete with waterfall that is also suitable for swimming. Clothing is optional.

This 700,000-acre refuge has most of the charismatic megafauna that visitors travel to Alaska to see, including black and grizzly bears, moose, Dall sheep, wolves, caribou, and tons of birds. Covering just south of the Alaska Highway east of the town of Tok all the way to the U.S.–Canada border, the refuge has a visitor center at Mile 1,229. A large deck here has spotting scopes, and inside are maps, books, and wildlife exhibits, as well as a board with information on current road conditions. At Mile 1,240 you can hike a 1-mile raised-plank boardwalk through lowland forest to scenic Hidden Lake. Basic lakefront campgrounds can be found at Miles 1,249 and 1,256 during the summer season.

Located on the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds, this regal 1890s edifice is the only surviving government building from Austin's first 30 years. Its Gothic style is attributed to its German architect, Conrad Stremme. This 2½-story structure, made of stuccoed stone and brick, opened in 1858 as the first home of the Texas General Land Office. The writer O. Henry worked here as a draftsman and used it as the setting for some of his short stories. Today, the visitor center and gift shop serve as a great first stop when touring the Capitol. The helpful staff can provide maps and brochures for self-guided walking tours of the grounds.

Embrace the rodeo and Western culture at this newer museum. Exhibits share details and gear from members of the hall fame, such as country-and-western singer George Strait, world champion Ty Murray, and rancher and photographer Bob Moorhouse. The museum also houses 60 wagons and carriages and a tribute to legendary bootmaker John Justin.

Every February, generally toward the end of the month, ranchers and cowboys congregate for three days at Sul Ross State University to regale audiences with original poetry and washtub-bass tributes to singers like Bob Wills. The idea is to preserve the traditions of the West in words and song.

The world's largest medical center is just a few blocks south of the Museum District. As you drive down Main Street, the soaring glass towers and sprawling campuses of the 1,000-acre complex begin to take shape. About 5.5 million patients are treated in the center each year, and its 46 member institutions include two medical schools, 13 renowned hospitals, 4 nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, and pharmacy.

Here you’ll find exhibits dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of the military in Texas, from the inception of the Lone Star State's first militias to the modern war on terror. Heavy artillery, helicopters, uniforms, and tanks are on permanent display in the 45,000-square-foot museum that encourages a hands-on approach. Outdoor exhibits are on display throughout the Camp Mabry grounds and they host living history events, including exciting battle and World War II reenactments, on certain weekends throughout the year. Remember to bring your valid photo ID—you'll need it to get on the Camp Mabry grounds.

This is the official museum and hall of fame of the Texas Rangers, the state's storied law-enforcement agency. Exhibits focus on the history of and equipment used by the Rangers throughout the years. Shotguns belonging to Bonnie and Clyde are here as well.

Formerly known as the Texas Memorial Museum (a name still etched in the historic building's limestone facade), this UT campus museum had a major revamp in 2023 that included a name change that reflects its true mission—to serve as the only science and natural history museum in the Austin area. Visitors can explore the natural world of Texas, from prehistoric to modern times, with fossils from millions of years ago, life-sized dinosaur models (including a 40-foot-long pterosaur), and dioramas of Texas wildlife, from buffalo and roadrunners to cougars and flying squirrels. Excellent permanent and rotating exhibits are now on view throughout the four-story space, and a partnership with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plans to provide for native pollinator gardens around the museum exterior.

Aboard the restored 1877 tall ship Elissa, detailed interpretive signs provide information about the shipping trade in the 1800s, including the routes and cargoes this ship carried into Galveston. Inside the museum building is a replica of the historic wharf and a one-of-a-kind computer database containing the names of more than 133,000 immigrants who entered the United States through Galveston after 1837.

Paying homage to many legendary Texas sports figures, this museum also has areas devoted to tennis, high-school basketball, and high school football. Interactivity abounds as guests can watch clips of important Texas sports moments in the Tom Landry Theater, compare hand and shoe sizes to larger-than-life NBA players, and sing along to college fight songs.

Underwater adventure comes to life for all ages in an intimate educational environment that allows you to touch, watch, feed, and interact with hundreds of aquatic species. Interactive exhibits will introduce you to water-based tales from the Texas shore to the the depths of the Gulf of Mexico. If the weather is good be sure to pack the kids' swimsuits—they may get wet if the dophins get happy during their performance; even if they don't, the splash park will be waiting when the show is over.

There is a thriving hog culture in the Hill Country, and it’s not just feral hogs, either. People love to ride motorcycles here, and the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum showcases one man's collection of vintage bikes from the 1950s to 1970s, and beyond. Owner Gordon Massie has been riding and restoring bikes for decades, and he exhibits around 100 here.

A Polish general who later became a national hero in his homeland, Kosciuszko came to the United States in 1776 to fight in the Revolution, one of the first foreign volunteers in the war. The plain three-story brick house, built around 1776, features a series of exhibits that display artifacts from six Polish museums, depicting Kosciuszko's life in his homeland as well as some of his original possessions. An eight-minute film (in English and Polish) portrays the general's activities during the Revolution.

A few blocks east of 18th Street's hustle and bustle, this neighborhood landmark was built in 1892 but shuttered for decades, and reopened as a stunning multipurpose space in 2013. The focal point is a concert hall, elegantly fashioned after a Prague opera house, which hosts a broad range of musical performances and artsy events. Punch House, a hip and moodily lit lounge for the cocktail crowd, and Tack Room, a cocktail bar featuring live music in the former carriage house, are also on the premises.

This small triangular plaza designed by Philip Johnson contains quiet gardens and an interfaith chapel with stained glass by Gabriel Loire.

Founded by the Ashton family (Alan Ashton founded WordPerfect computer software, which is now Orem-based Novell), Thanksgiving Point is an ever-evolving destination with a wealth of attractions. Wander among 60 dinosaur skeletons in the Museum of Ancient Life; explore a slew of oddities in the Museum of Natural Curiosity; play golf on an 18-hole Johnny Miller–designed course; or meditate in 55 acres of carefully landscaped and eminently Instagrammable gardens. There are also a petting zoo with cute farm animals, a butterfly biosphere, shops, restaurants, and a megaplex theater, and there are several hotels nearby. The museums are open year-round, but gardens and some other attractions are seasonal.

Bustling Thayer Street bears a proud old New England name and is very much a part of campus life at Brown, RISD, and other local colleges. Gentrification has resulted in an influx of chain stores. In the blocks between Waterman and Bowen Streets, though, you'll still find fashion boutiques, shops selling funky gifts, the art deco--style Avon Cinema, and restaurants serving every kind of cuisine from Greek to Korean.

The second-oldest marine-mammal center in the world doesn't attempt to compete with more modern, more expensive parks. Even so, it's among the better attractions north of Key West, especially if you have kids in tow. In addition to seeing marine-life exhibits and shows, you can make reservations for up-close-and-personal encounters like a swim with a dolphin or sea lion or stingray and turtle feedings (which include general admission). Stop for lunch at the grill, shop in the extensive gift shop, or sunbathe and swim at the private beach.

If it weren't for a small sign on the sidewalk and the faint whiff of cocoa in the air, you'd never know that Fremont has its own artisanal chocolate factory with daily tours. Since it opened in 2005, Theo has become one of the Northwest's most familiar chocolate brands, and is sold in shops across the city. Theo uses only organic, fair-trade cocoa beans, usually in high percentages—yielding darker, less sweet, and more complex flavors than some of their competitors. Stop by the factory to buy exquisite "confection" truffles—made daily in small batches—with unusual flavors like basil-ganache, lemon, fig-fennel, and burnt sugar. The friendly staff is generous with samples. You can go behind the scenes as well, with informative, hour-long tours; reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends and during peak tourist season.

Flanked by the desolate Mazatzal and Sierra Anchas mountain ranges, Theodore Roosevelt Lake Reservoir and Dam is an aquatic recreational area—a favorite with bass anglers, water-skiers, and boaters. This is the largest masonry dam on the planet, and the massive bridge is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in the nation.

Down the road from Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt's family home, is this 12-acre bird sanctuary—the perfect legacy of the environmentally active president. More than 125 species of birds live here. Roosevelt is buried in a cemetery on the grounds.

This 40,000-square-foot children's museum offers a mesmerizing variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits that blend education and play for "learners" of all ages. Explore the STEAM-based programs and themed rooms, like the Light Lab, where you can play architect with fascinating light structures, and an Innovators' Workshop that puts curious minds to work on creative problem-solving. There's a superb playground in the backyard, with climbing structures and water features.